Banjo attachment.



No. 706,38I. Patented Aug. 5, |902.

H. M. BRONSON.

BANJO ATTACHMENT.

(Application l'ed Nov. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

ATTO YS Tus Nmws patins co. movommo, wAsmNm'oN, n. c.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD M. BBONSON, OF BRANDON, VERMONT.

BANJO ATTACH lV! ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 706,381, dated August5, 1902.

' Application led November 21,1901. Serial No. 83,135. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t mag/concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD M. BRoNsoN, a citizen of the United States,and aresident of Forestdale, town of Brandon, in the county of Rutlandand StateofVermont, have invented certain newand useful Improvements inBanjo Attachments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of 'thefinvention is to provide a new and improved attachmentforbanjos and like musical instruments, arranged 'for convenientapplication to any banjo, and more especially designed for removing allharshness of the banjo tone and rendering the mu sic produced soft andsweet.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe saine, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed outin the claims.

A practical embodiment ofthe invention is represented in theaccompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similarcharacters of'j reference indicate corresponding parts in allthefigures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improvement asappliedypartsbeing-broken out. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional sideelevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theimprovement.

The banjo A of ordinary construction is provided in its drumhead A' withthe usual cross-brace B, on the top of which is located alongitudinally-extending lever C, terminating at one end in a loopG",from which eX- tends the return bent larmOz, terminating at its endin an upwardly-rising stein'OS, onA

which is held vertically adjustable the bridge or muffler D, normallystanding with its felted top a short distance below the under side ofthe head A' of the banjo A, directly opposite the string-bridge A2, asplainly indicated in Fig. 2. At the sides of the loop C' are secured theupper ends of elastic bands F, extending on the sides of the cross-braceB and having their lower ends connected with each other by a ring F',abutting against the un.- der side of the-cross-brace. (See Fig. 2.) ThebandsjF and ring F/ form a yieldable clamp for holding the lever O onthe crossbrace B to allow the lever to swing upward to bring the mufflerD in contact with the under side of the drumhead A/, the said bands Falso serving to return the muffler to its resting position on thecross-brace B.

On the forward end of the lever C is formed a depending handle C4,carrying a knob O5, adapted to be engaged by the performer to impart anupward swinging motion to the lever O to move the muflier D in contactwith y the drumhead with more or less force to mulllc the drumhead toany desired degree, and thereby remove all vharshness in the sound andrender the music soft and sweet. vWhen the performer releases thepressure on the knob C5, then the spring-bands F return the mull'ler Oto a normal position, so that the lever rests on the cross-brace B andthe muffler D is then out of contact with the head A. A set-screw Eserves to vertically adjust the mu'liier D on the stem C3 to bring thesaid muflier in proper position relative to the head A. The handle C"lof the lever O extends loosely through a guide G in the form of a stapleor the like, secured to the side of the cross-brace B.

The attachment is very simple and durable in construction and canreadily be applied to a banjo of ordinary construction, and theattachment can be readily moved into an active position by the performerwhenever it is desired to muflie the instrument, as above eX- plained.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patentl. The combination with a cross-bar of a banjo, or similarmusical instrument, of a lever resting on said bar, yieldable membersconnected to said lever, a coupling coperating with said members inholding said lever in operative position on said cross-bar, and amuffler carried by said lever.

2. A mulfling attachment for banjos and other musical instruments,comprising a lever provided with an offstanding arm, a muf- [leradjustably fitted to said arm and shiftable to different positionslengthwise thereof, means for holding said mull'ler in dilferentpositions on the arm, suitable attaching devices vfor the lever, and anoperating device.

A banjo attachment, comprising a lever terminating at one end in anangular handle carrying a knob and terminating at its other end in aloop, a return bent arm having an IOO secured on the said stein, forengaging the head of the instrument, and a guide on the side of thecross-brace for the angular handle I5 to slide in, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD M. BRONSON.

Witnesses:

NAPOLEON B. HALE, CHARLES W. FOWLER.

